Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Query: "....RTE have referred to the Taoiseach as the 'prime minister'....."

2»

Comments

  • #32
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭oppenheimer1


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    RTE come out with this one all the time -referring to the UK as "The North and the UK" :rolleyes:

    Notes to editors:
    "Britain": = That slightly big island to the East consisting of England/Wales/Scotland
    "UK": = England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland
    "The North" = Donegal ?

    And what about the BBC referring to Ireland as the Irish Republic? Do you have a problem with that too?

    RTÉ's output is aimed at Ireland and whether it is technically correct is irrelevant, as long as it is understood. I can't say I've heard them use the phrase you say they do, but RTE regularly use the term Britain and NI.


  • #33
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,069 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    I can't say I've heard them use the phrase you say they do, but RTE regularly use the term Britain and NI.

    Six One News from the 24th of August . . .

    Go to 1:20 of the report & you will hear what we are talking about!

    http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2011/0824/media-3033852.html


  • #34
    Mike 1972
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,017 ✭✭✭Mike 1972


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    And what about the BBC referring to Ireland as the Irish Republic? Do you have a problem with that too?

    "Ireland" = unclear as to whether the speaker is referring to a country or an island consisting of two countries collectively.

    "Irish Republic" = That country which is....you know...Irish....and...a Republic.....
    veryangryman wrote: »
    Why the fk would it matter whether the rest of the world understand it. It's irish news for Ireland.

    Increasingly accessible outside of Ireland and to recent arrivals within Ireland


  • #35
    Sonnenblumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,834 ✭✭✭Sonnenblumen


    UglyBolloxFace wrote: »
    I was reading the (now locked) thread about Northern Ireland and the UK, and a user (Naomi00) stated:



    I find this really hard to believe, and asked for some links to see whether this had occurred or not. But the thread was locked.

    So my question is, does anyone recall RTE doing this, and if so when, and any links?

    I would be more concerned about the interminable demise of the national broadcaster becoming an incestuous platform for c listed celebrity reality programming.:mad:

    Thanks for relieving me of this rant.;)


  • #36
    shannon_tek
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭shannon_tek


    Been watching too much BBC when they are commenting on Irish Affairs :pac:


  • Advertisement
  • #37
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭oppenheimer1


    Mike 1972 wrote: »

    "Irish Republic" = That country which is....you know...Irish....and...a Republic.....

    The country which... you know... hasn't existed since 1922. Incidentally it referred to the whole island back then.

    The only reason british media organisations, such as the BBC, use the term above is to not offend unionists and is a hangover from the UK/Ireland naming dispute.


  • #38
    later12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,298 ✭✭✭✭later12


    UglyBolloxFace wrote: »
    I was reading the (now locked) thread about Northern Ireland and the UK, and a user (Naomi00) stated:



    I find this really hard to believe, and asked for some links to see whether this had occurred or not. But the thread was locked.

    So my question is, does anyone recall RTE doing this, and if so when, and any links?
    To get back on topic I remember reading this too, in fact I think I questioned it at the time (although I cannot remember who posted it), and would also appreciate an answer.

    I have never heard RTE call the Taoiseach the Prime Minister. Can whoever made that claim clarify it, or give an example?


  • #39
    Mike 1972
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,017 ✭✭✭Mike 1972


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    The country which... you know... hasn't existed since 1922.ever .

    FYP !


  • #40
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,069 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    The only reason british media organisations, such as the BBC, use the term above is to not offend unionists and is a hangover from the UK/Ireland naming dispute.

    No I disagree, the reason the Beeb may report on a story regarding "The Republic of Ireland" would be to distingush it from the island of Ireland which is a geographical entity. Obviousy Northern Ireland is not part of the Republic, and if the BBC just refer to "Irelands economy" for example, then people in Britain may visualise the whole island? or not? so the clarification is needed for certain stories that don't involve Northern Ireland.


  • #41
    Katekat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 45 ✭Katekat


    What exactly is the issue here? An Taoiseach is pretty much described in the constitution as head of government or prime minister, so depending on the context and who was involved in the discussion they are theoretically correct. (now if it happened on Nuacht that would be embarrassing but would still depend on the context). The dail - its part of the "houses" making up the Oireachtas and should be better described as the lower house of parliament (as bearla)........ so can someone tell me what the issue is here?


  • Advertisement
  • #42
    ResearchWill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭ResearchWill


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    Is "prime minister" basically not a pretty accurate description of what a Taoiseach is ?

    Im sure lots of countries have fancy titles for their heads of government in their local languages but one rarely hears them used in English language news bulletins.

    Never understood why Ireland insists on calling its prime minister a "Taoiseach" (Even when speaking Irish/Gaelic whats wrong with "Priomh Aire" ?) its police "Gardai", etc etc. Comes across as being insistent on being different to other countries purely for for the sake of it

    The reason that the Taoiseach should not be called anything other than Taoiseach is that the Constitution states at 28 5 1

    "The head of the government, or Prime Minister, shall be called, and in this Constitution referred to as, the Taoiseach."

    If the constitution wished the Taoiseach to be referred to as Prime Minister it would have said "or in the English language "Prime Minister"


  • #43
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,069 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    When describing what the Taoiseach is & what he does to 'outsiders' then the obvious title is Prime Minister, because to all intents & purposes that is what he is, and that is what his job entails - simples :)


  • #44
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    mickydoomsux wrote: »
    Maybe RTE just want to report things properly without having useless bog-talk littering their news items.

    Perhaps they want the rest of the world to be able to fully understand it.

    Its rather telling that, even now, I find some of the ignorance displayed around here breathtaking.
    mickydoomsux wrote: »
    egarding Enda as Prime Minister, well he is our Prime Minister in the English language, and depending on the context, then I see nothing at all wrong with describing the Taoiseach of the day as the Irish Prime Minister, because he is !!! .

    The official title of his office, as laid out in law, is Taoiseach. Given your views, however, its not at all suprising you'd be more comfortable with 'Prime Minister'.


  • #45
    Mike 1972
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,017 ✭✭✭Mike 1972


    ResearchWill wrote: »
    The reason that the Taoiseach should not be called anything other than Taoiseach is that the Constitution states at 28 5 1

    The constitution also says something about wimmens duties in the home

    And thats a pile of shyte too !


  • #46
    catbear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,092 ✭✭✭catbear


    I thought Taoiseach meant chieftain and TDs were messengers to the Chieftain. Prime Minister is the speaker for the cabinet where as chieftain is chieftain.


  • #47
    Wolfe Tone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,670 ✭✭✭✭Wolfe Tone


    I'm sure if they did so it was a mistake.


  • #48
    Richard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,441 ✭✭✭Richard


    goose2005 wrote: »
    no, they are the lower house of parliament. The Oireachtas is our parliament (Dail + Seanad).

    Ok, the Oireachtas and Palace of Westminster are both parliaments. My point still stands.


  • #49
    Richard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,441 ✭✭✭Richard


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    The only reason british media organisations, such as the BBC, use the term above is to not offend unionists and is a hangover from the UK/Ireland naming dispute.

    Well, it could be. Or, here in the real world, it could actually be that the word "Ireland" is ambiguous.


  • #50
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭oppenheimer1


    Richard wrote: »
    Well, it could be. Or, here in the real world, it could actually be that the word "Ireland" is ambiguous.

    Then why not use the official description, the "Republic of Ireland"?

    The Irish republic is only used because of unionist objections.


  • #51
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭oppenheimer1


    LordSutch wrote: »
    No I disagree, the reason the Beeb may report on a story regarding "The Republic of Ireland" would be to distingush it from the island of Ireland which is a geographical entity. Obviousy Northern Ireland is not part of the Republic, and if the BBC just refer to "Irelands economy" for example, then people in Britain may visualise the whole island? or not? so the clarification is needed for certain stories that don't involve Northern Ireland.

    I agree that the term Ireland can be ambiguous in certain circumstances but the Republic of Ireland Act gave the country an official description to help clarify matters. In fact if an ambassador turns up at the Aras with an accreditation letter to the head of the Irish Republic, he or she will be turned away, while letters to Éire, Ireland or the Republic of Ireland will be accepted.


  • Advertisement
  • #52
    Richard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,441 ✭✭✭Richard


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    Then why not use the official description, the "Republic of Ireland"?

    There are many people on here who object to that term also.
    The Irish republic is only used because of unionist objections.

    Well you've lost me. Why would a unionist object to "Republic of Ireland"?
    The only people I've heard object to that name are ones who only want the name "Ireland" to be used.


Advertisement
Advertisement